Should English Be A Mandatory Language?

[Magic Man]

In school, you are required to take a language class. Why? What's the purpose if English is to be the official language? It is important. Imports and exports of goods sometimes deal with business people that have to have translators to communicate because they do not speak english. It's a business thing. It also leads to a government thing where translators are needed to discuss government business. Do you think the president only speaks one language? I believe he speaks other languages or he brings his translators.

What I am trying to say is that even though we are in america, we can't force those who do not speak english to speak english. It's like forcing you to speak a language you don't want to learn but you must because that's the official language.

You're taught another language in school because it's good to know about other cultures. It is possible to learn about other cultures while simultaneously having your own culture. Countries that have official languages still teach their kids other languages, and expect them to know the official language. I do believe the president speaks only one language, but that's a problem. An even bigger problem would be if he didn't speak English.

As to the last part, not forcing others to speak English is then forcing me to learn their language. To communicate people have to speak the same language. If someone doesn't learn my language, then I have to learn theirs. So, it's not like forcing me to speak another language, it is forcing me to speak another language. I, personally, love learning other people's languages, but that's me, it shouldn't be mandatory for me to do it, the opposite should be.

 

[kai]

I don't think it should for the reasons I stated above. What do you think?

ok do they send in their tax returns in their "native" tongues

 

[MiChAelThOmPsOn72]

As to the last part, not forcing others to speak English is then forcing me to learn their language. To communicate people have to speak the same language. If someone doesn't learn my language, then I have to learn theirs. So, it's not like forcing me to speak another language, it is forcing me to speak another language. I, personally, love learning other people's languages, but that's me, it shouldn't be mandatory for me to do it, the opposite should be.

Then that's forcing them to speak your language. If you don't want to be forced to speak their language, how would it be good to force them to speak your language?

I don't think it would be mandatory if you go to another country to learn their language. That's what they have translators for and books. But if you would like to learn their language (your choice) that's good. I am still trying to find the mind capacity to be able to learn other languages. Sign language is one and Hispanic would be second. I was even thinking about languages that no one or myself have ever heard of before.

 

[Magic Man]

Then that's forcing them to speak your language. If you don't want to be forced to speak their language, how would it be good to force them to speak your language?

I don't think it would be mandatory if you go to another country to learn their language. That's what they have translators for and books. But if you would like to learn their language (your choice) that's good. I am still trying to find the mind capacity to be able to learn other languages. Sign language is one and Hispanic would be second. I was even thinking about languages that no one or myself have ever heard of before.

To the first point, if neither of us can speak the other's language, then we can't communicate effectively. They should learn mine because it's the language of the vast majority. I would learn theirs if the roles were reversed, but as it is, it would be much easier to teach 10 people a language than to teach 1,000.

Basically someone is forced to learn a language. It only makes sense to force the minority to adjust to the majority, when the minority goes into the majority's home.

"Immigrants who are applying for Canadian citizenship must normally be able to speak either English or French." That is from Wikipedia's entry on Canada's languages. I was reading up on it after someone mentioned it. They apparently force people to learn another language to be citizens there. Why would it be so bad for us to do it here?

 

[Mister_T]

No that does not work.

Um, yes it does. That's the way it's currently set up and it's working right now.

You can not have people in a country who can not communicate with others in that country.

Prepare to have your reality shattered because the USA has been doing this for a few hundred years now.

If you look at the Catalonian regions of France, Spain and Andorra most people speak four languages. French, Spanish, Catalonian(not sure if correct spelling) and English. This means that if the move about either further South or North they will still be fluent in the predominate language of their country. It is fine for them to speak Catalonian to others who speak it but they are also required to know their National language to be able to converse with everyone in their country

And that is to their benefit. But there are hundreds of languages being spoken in the USA and while it's not uncommon for someone to be bi-lingual in the United States, it's certainly not feesable for every citizen to learn the hundreds of languages being spoken here, especially if a particular language is not relevant to the region you live in.

 

[Mister_T]

ok do they send in their tax returns in their "native" tongues

Yes.

 

[Magic Man]

...it's certainly not feesable for every citizen to learn the hundreds of languages being spoken here, especially if a particular language is not relevant to the region you live in.

Exactly, so set English as the official language, and everyone only has to learn one language (or none, if you already speak it obviously). English is relevant to every region of the U.S.

Yes.

No.

 

[whereismynotecard]

If the United States wants to let anyone and everyone live here, they have to expect that not everyone will speak English... We want our country to be diverse, and it is.

 

[Magic Man]

If the United States wants to let anyone and everyone live here, they have to expect that not everyone will speak English... We want our country to be diverse, and it is.

So, how do all of those people communicate then?

 

[Mister_T]

Exactly, so set English as the official language, and everyone only has to learn one language (or none, if you already speak it obviously). English is relevant to every region of the U.S.

No it's not relevant to every region in the US, as I have demonstrated many times. People can learn the language relevant to their region instead of forcing everyone else to learn English so you don't run into an "inconvenience."

No.

Yes.

California has agreed to allow the publication of state documents in other languages to represent minority groups and immigrant communities. Languages, such as Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Persian, Russian, Vietnamese and Thai appear in official state documents, and the Department of Motor Vehicles publishes in 47 languages.

Languages of the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[whereismynotecard]

So, how do all of those people communicate then?

Well, I don't think a lot of people move here all alone, so they can talk to their family members... I know my great grandma moved to the US from Germany, and she taught herself english. She writes only in capital letters. I love that lady.

 

[Magic Man]

No it's not relevant to every region in the US, as I have demonstrated many times. People can learn the language relevant to their region instead of forcing everyone else to learn English so you don't run into an "inconvenience."

If I live there, either I'm going to have to learn Mandarin, or I'm going to have to put up and shut up because they are the predominate culture in that particular area. Anything else would be pretty arrogant and hypocritical IMO.

So why are immigrants exempt from this? If those people speaking Chinese or Spanish here had followed your rule here, then they would be able to speak English. This is the exact same argument I'm using, but I realize that things in America are done in English.

Yes.

Nuh uh!

Languages of the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Why do you think they're offered in those languages? Because those people don't follow the rule you threw out there. If they did follow the "put up or shut up" guideline in the first place, there'd be no need to have those forms in other languages. Why let them be the exception to your rule? Shouldn't everybody follow the same rule? :yes:

 

[Magic Man]

Well, I don't think a lot of people move here all alone, so they can talk to their family members... I know my great grandma moved to the US from Germany, and she taught herself english. She writes only in capital letters. I love that lady.

Exactly, but how do they communicate with others here? Your great grandma is a perfect example. Good for her! She taught herself English, why? Because it was important for her to communicate with others here.

 

[whereismynotecard]

Exactly, but how do they communicate with others here? Your great grandma is a perfect example. Good for her! She taught herself English, why? Because it was important for her to communicate with others here.

Well you cannot force people to learn English... If they want to communicate with others, they will learn it on their own.

 

[whereismynotecard]

We should offer free English Language classes to foriegn people, if they want to take them, but I don't think they should be forced to... If they don't feel it is important, then why make them??

 

[Magic Man]

Well you cannot force people to learn English... If they want to communicate with others, they will learn it on their own.

I know. I can't force them. As long as they can pay taxes, and don't expect anyone to cater to them, I have no problem. As long as they realize that, when they have problems because they can't communicate with the majority of the country, it's not the country's fault.

 

[rheff78]

We should offer free English Language classes to foriegn people, if they want to take them, but I don't think they should be forced to... If they don't feel it is important, then why make them??

Hey, it's called ESL in school. We are "forced" to teach kids the English language so they can be a more productive member of society. Alot of these kids then go home and teach their parents. Why would they do this? Because America is mostly an English speaking nation, that's why.

 

[Mister_T]

So why are immigrants exempt from this? If those people speaking Chinese or Spanish here had followed your rule here, then they would be able to speak English. This is the exact same argument I'm using, but I realize that things in America are done in English.

No, because many parts of Los Angeles you don't need English to function properly because there's enough people where you live that speak your native tongue, like China Town, Little Tokyo and San Fernando: They function just fine in Los Angeles and yet they do not have to conform to the rest of U.S. in order to function, although it would be to their benefit. That's something you seem to be overlooking: Things in America are done in English...and Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin, Armenian, Hebrew....you get the picture.

Why do you think they're offered in those languages?

Um, because we're a multicultural nation that has no official language. Seems like a pretty simple concept to me.

Because those people don't follow the rule you threw out there. If they did follow the "put up or shut up" guideline in the first place, there'd be no need to have those forms in other languages

The forms are in different languages because there's no official language set by the government. The government, in recognition of this, prints forms in multiple languages. I'm not really how much more clearer I can make that.

Chinese people living in Chinatown who speak Mandarin only, don't need to put up or shut up because everyone in Chinatown speaks Mandarin. A country boy from Nebraska who only speaks English and wants to make Chinatown his home would have to "put up or shut up" if they don't want to learn Mandarin, because English is the minority of that region. The same is true for a Chinese person who only speaks Mandarin planning on moving to Nebraska. The Mandarin only speaking person would have to "put up or shut up" if he didn't want to speak English because Mandarin is the minotrity in that region. Once again, it's region specific, not nation specific. Pretty simple.

 

[Magic Man]

No, because many parts of Los Angeles you don't need English to function properly because there's enough people where you live that speak your native tongue, like China Town, Little Tokyo and San Fernando: They function just fine in Los Angeles and yet they do not have to conform to the rest of U.S. in order to function, although it would be to their benefit. That's something you seem to be overlooking: Things in America are done in English...and Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin, Armenian, Hebrew....you get the picture.

Your question is should they be done that way. My answer is no.

Um, because we're a multicultural nation that has no official language. Seems like a pretty simple concept to me.

There are plenty of multicultural countrys that have an official language, Canada is one, France is another, England is another. You can have the two things together. An official language does not exclude multiculturalism.

The forms are in different languages because there's no official language set by the government. The government, in recognition of this, prints forms in multiple languages. I'm not really how much more clearer I can make that.

You're right. Now, as to the original question "Should English be the official language", the answer is yes because it would make all of that easier for the majority of Americans. I can' get much clearer than that.

Chinese people living in Chinatown who speak Mandarin only, don't need to put up or shut up because everyone in Chinatown speaks Mandarin. A country boy from Nebraska who only speaks English and wants to make Chinatown his home would have to "put up or shut up" if they don't want to learn Mandarin, because English is the minority of that region. The same is true for a Chinese person who only speaks Mandarin planning on moving to Nebraska. The Mandarin only speaking person would have to "put up or shut up" if he didn't want to speak English because Mandarin is the minotrity in that region. Once again, it's region specific, not nation specific. Pretty simple.

Exactly, so those people in Chinatown who moved to the U.S. where most people speak English should have learned English to fit in instead of forcing people like that "country boy" to learn their language. They didn't, so they should now. It's only region specific because the people in those regions didn't follow your rule to begin with. Since they didn't do it yet, it's not too much to ask for them to do it now.

 

[DallasApple]

I think for the persons own good they would benefit by speaking English...Just like I know full good and well I'de be smart to learn Spanish here in Texas..Im just a lazy procrastinator!

Blessings

Dallas